The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-16
new JERSEYS SENATOR
A Democrat Elected With tho
Aid of Republican Votes.
Turbulent Scenes Ending the Long
and Exciting Contest.

After Legislative contest lasting two
months the struggle for successor to United
States Senator Sewen in the New Jersey Leg
islature has ended. A Trenton dispatch TO
the New York Herald describes the final ex- Z
citing scenes as follows: ...-
Rufus Blodgett, Superintendent Of the New
York and Long Branch Railroad Company,
and g. Democrat, was declared elected Un1ted
States Senator to-day In joint meeting, bay
ing received forty-two votes, In the midst Of
scenes of tumult and disorder seldom equaied
here. .LEg,.-
Two ballots were taken. The first resulted
as follows:-Blodgett,;3 SO; Albeit, 50; Sewell,
Q; Rays, l, and E. E. Potter, - g
All the Republicans except Dickinson and
Let's. of Hudson, together with Chattie,
Throckmorton and Baird, Democrats, voted
for Blodgett. The ALBEIT column was made
up Of all the caucus Democrats, Carroll.
Labor, and Mcbride, Chase and Kinney,
bolting Democrats, voting for him also
Donohue, Labor, voted for Erastus =. Pot-
ter, and Dickinson and Let's for Sewen
'sThe second ballot will break the dead.
lock- came from the RepublicanS And Is
did. The ballot resulted as follows: Blod-
gett, 40; Albeit, 80; Sewell, 4; Potter, !: y
Before the result was announced Dickinson,
of Hudson, changed from Sewell to Blodgett
thus giving him: the necessary majority Tor
election. :. !. - s55
Some cheers greeted the change, and the
Blodgett men nearly went wild with JOY.
John H. Laird, about the most corpulent man
| in the State.and Blodgett manager, danced
with delight and then fell on the broad OF his
back. -.
Senator Chase afterward changed from
Albeit to Blodgett, so the final result as an
nounced was: Blodgett, AZ; Albeit, 81; Pot
ter, 1; sewel, 1-Letts, of Hudson, having
Chairman Fish's formal declaration that
Rufus Blodgett was elected. United States
Senator from New Jersey to succeed William
J. Sewell from the 4th Of March next was
greeted with cheers and Kisses 1tmade tho
Albeit Democrats simply frantic: and
they arose en- masse, saying they desired
to change their votes The most ndeecr1babie
confusion prevailed. Chairman Fish was
threatened personal violence If he did not
recognize them The din that reigned made
it impossible for him to recognize anybody.
Some of the Democrats had changed TO
Sewell, but changed back again to Albeit
when message was received from him ask.
| ing all his faithful followers to stick by him
He told them he accepted the result philosoph-
ically. -. -
The joint meeting was finally adjourned
| sine die. The tumultuous scenes were con-
| tinued for some time afterward. ::-Is5
The New Senator.
Serator-elect Rufus Blodgett was born in
Dorchester, N. a., November 8, 1884 and is
consequently in the ffty-third year OF his
age. He served his time at the mact ctinists
trade, and worked at it. for some years m
| his native State. About twenty years ago
| he came to New Jersey, and found employ
ment soon afterward with the New jersey
! Southern Railroad Company, and sitter .
| while became its superintendent Anew years
| ago he was appointed superintendent OF the
New York and Long Branch Railroad Conn
pany, over which the trains Of the Sernsyfyar
mia and New jersey Central railroads run BY
| mutual agreement. For some years Mr.
| Blodgett resided at Manchester, Ocean coun-
| ty, and he represented that county In tbs
| House of Assembly in the years 1873, 1879,
and 1880. In the latter year he was d:.
feated for the office of State Senator from t.lc
same county by Abraham C. Havens by less
than 100 majority. he took q promtEant
part in legislation while In the House OF
Assembly, and was mainly instrumental
in having the Six Per Cent Interest law
passed. He was Chairman Of the Demo
cratic State COMMITTEES during the Cleye.
land campaign. Last fall he was candidate
for Governor, and, after bitter and hard
fought contest, he was defeated by the pres
emit Executive, Robert 8. Green. BE lives at
Long Branch. ..".